Climate change is the hot topic of this day and age. Every day, more and more people are searching for ways to live their lives in a way that leaves their ecological footprint as small as they can possibly muster – and since you clicked this article, maybe you are one of those people. In that case, well done! You have taken an important first step towards a greener life.
You may have clicked this article out of sheer curiosity, thinking “what’s Zero waste?” The so-called Zero waste lifestyle is exactly what it says on the package: an attempt to minimize your personal waste. In a world rife with single-use plastic, you may think that this sounds like quite the task, and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong – plastic is everywhere around us, and it’s not easy trying to avoid it altogether. However, even small steps can have a major impact, and I’m here to help you along by giving you five ways to dip your toes into a more eco-friendly way of life.
1. SAY NO TO PLASTIC
“Well, duh.” It’s the very foundation of the Zero waste movement, but it’s not as easy as just buying a metal straw and a keep cup and calling it a day – even though those are great first steps! Single-use plastic is everywhere, and for most of us it is so heavily ingrained into our daily lives that we hardly realise it. A good place to start is your personal hygiene: your toothbrush, your deodorant, your cotton pads, your shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, cleanser – they can all easily be swapped out with zero waste alternatives. Just think of Lush’ shampoo bars, the Humble bamboo toothbrush, and the many varieties of reusable makeup removal cloths, to name just a few.
Another big hurdle in banning single-use plastic from your life is grocery shopping; from the packaging to the bags, many supermarkets are not as environment-friendly as they could be. A good habit to pick up is to bring a reusable shopping bag to avoid that annoying moment when you inevitably have to ask for a plastic bag because you forgot your own. The second step is to shop more consciously, keeping in mind how your food is packaged – many fruits and vegetables in particular are packaged in single-use practice when they do not need to be, and doing your part can be as simple as shopping from the bulk potatoes instead of grabbing the pre-packaged ones.
2. SECOND-HAND FIRST
Have you heard of “fast fashion”? Fashion is moving so quickly that trends are moving faster than the seasons these days, and the retail industry has to scramble to keep up with the constant customer demand of newer, cheaper, now. And that’s exactly what it is – the current fashion industry runs on producing clothing as quickly and as cheaply as possible, and not only does this fill our closets with clothing that gets ruined easily, the impact that this industry has on our environment, as well as laborers in developing countries, is harrowing. Next time you’re eager for some new items in your wardrobe, why not head to a thrift store? You’re reducing the demand for fast fashion, and at the same time, you’re keeping durably made clothing in the cycle instead of them being sent off to landfills. If second-hand is not your thing, why not consider supporting the work of smaller, local, and above all sustainable brands such as Antiform or Weecos?
3. PLAN YOUR MEALS
Over a third of all food produced goes to waste. That’s an immeasurable amount of energy and resources constantly being spent – enough to feed all of the world’s one billion hungry, four times over – only for it to end up in the bin. Now, most of us can remember a time when we bought something and then later ended up having to throw it out without even having touched it. This is where meal planning comes in: meal planning is taking some time out of your day to sit down and decide what you’ll be eating for the week. In doing so, you can make your shopping list accordingly and avoid buying too much – or buying something you have the intention of eating some time that week only for it to sit in the fridge until it’s expired. It might take some getting used to, but it’s more than worth it: meal planning will not only help you reduce your food waste, it’ll also save you time and money. If you need some help, try Eat This Much, an automatic meal planning app that creates weekly plans and grocery lists based on your preferences.
4. GO VEGGIE
Now, you might be thinking, “what does vegetarianism and veganism have to do with reducing waste?” The effect of this one is less visible on a personal level – you won’t necessarily see the effects of a plant-based diet yourself, but I can promise you that cutting animal products out of your diet will have a bigger impact than you think. Animal agriculture is one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world and produces more greenhouse gasses than the entirety of the transport industry; because greenhouse gases are just as much waste as any piece of single-use plastic, this alone makes going vegetarian or vegan almost a no-brainer if you want to live a more environment-friendly lifestyle. Why not try transitioning to a more plant-based lifestyle with Meatless Mondays or weekday veganism? With an increasing array of vegan options such as Violife and Beyond Meat, it has become easier than ever – and the planet will thank you.
5. GET INVOLVED
There are many non-profit organisations committed to working towards a cleaner planet, and they’re always looking for new people passionate about the cause. There are many pop-up events all around the globe for those willing to lend a helping hand to a greener environment – think of the ever more popular global initiative World Clean-up Day, where people all around the globe gather to collect rubbish from parks, beaches, forests, etc. If you’re willing to devote more time to the cause, consider joining one of your local Zero waste organisations as a volunteer – they’re always looking for people willing to bring awareness to the community and engage in activities such as litter picks, swap events, and Zero waste workshops. You could also do your part by urging your local grocery store to consider swapping their single-use plastic bags for paper bags, petitioning for a better citywide recycling system, and much, much more.
Well, there you have it – five steps to a Zero waste lifestyle from a Zero waste fanatic, yours truly. I hope at least some of this was helpful to you all; let’s work together towards a greener future. See you next time!